This morning, Border Activist Wil Maheia and members of his Belize Territorial Volunteers took a trip to Barranco at the south-eastern edge of Toledo District. They were there to show appreciation for the lawmen of the Belize Defense Force and the Belize Coast Guard.
These are the two Belizean enforcement agencies that have worked hard to bring safety to the Coast of the Toledo District and the Sarstoon River. While the rest of us are going to enjoy the holiday weekend with family or friends, the members of the Coast guard and the BDF will have to dutifully stand guard over the country's territory. So today, the BTV organized a barbecue for them to say thanks.
Here's a brief explanation of the event from Maheia:
Voice of: Wil Maheia - Leader, BTV
"Today, we are heading down toward Barranco, the Belize Territorial Volunteers. We're going to prepare a little meal to show appreciation for the troops who defend the southern border. This is the Belize Territorial Volunteers who will be providing the meal for the troops. It's to show appreciation for the fact that we could now come into the southern waters, and we're not confronted by Guatemalans. We want to applaud the Belize Defense Force and the Belize Coast Guard for doing a wonderful job. Usually, 5 or 10 years ago, we come into these areas, and we would be encountered by many Guatemalan fishing boats. Today, the only boats that we encounter are Belizean fishing boats. So, we want to say thank you to the troops, thanks to the BDF and the Coast Guard for keeping our waters free of illegal fishing, and today, we're going to Barranco to do a barbecue for the troops. It's just to show appreciation."
